Police ask for help as Illegal Transient Camp Sparks Fire on Bike Trail

The fire was located just south of the bike path, west of Schnell School Rd and grew rapidly in the dry, dense vegetation. As a precaution, several residences in the immediate vicinity were evacuated for a brief period of time. Police will be stepping up patrols along the trail and are reminding citizens living in the area and those utilizing the trail to report any suspicious activities and illegal camps observed in the area.

Placerville Newswire | 2014-07-30

Placerville, CA – Wildfire is a risk we watch with concern from our rural vantage point in El Dorado County paying attention to dry conditions, shifting winds and remembering the smell, smoke and impact of the Sand fire this week. Police Asking Public to Continue to Report Suspicious Activities along Bike Path.

Cmdr. Kim Nida of the Placerville police Department issued this public notice:

The Placerville Police Department and El Dorado County Fire responded to a report of fire along the El Dorado Trail late Monday afternoon. The fire was located just south of the bike path, west of Schnell School Rd and grew rapidly in the dry, dense vegetation. As a precaution, several residences in the immediate vicinity were evacuated for a brief period of time. The incident was quickly brought under control in 15 – 20 minutes.

Officers came upon an illegal camp in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Although the exact cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation, police are confident the illegal camp activities were responsible for sparking the fire. Police and Fire are following up on possible leads provided by evidence located at the campsite.

Police will be stepping up patrols along the trail and are reminding citizens living in the area and those utilizing the trail to report any suspicious activities and illegal camps observed in the area. “With the chronic drought conditions, we must remain on guard of irresponsible behaviors that can lead to fires on our hillsides,” said Police Chief Scott Heller, “This sort of incident is exactly the reason why we have an illegal camping ordinance in the city.”

Investigators with the Placerville Police Department and El Dorado County Fire District are conducting a joint investigation of the incident. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Ron Cannon of the Placerville Police Department at (530) 642-5210 Case Number: PG14-01161